Mom accused of tossing baby 'depressed'

2011-08-24 12:01

Orange - A US mother accused of nearly killing her 7-month-old son by tossing him from the fourth floor of a hospital parking garage was treated for depression after the child's birth, her husband said.

Sonia Hermosillo, aged 31, was arrested on Monday night, hours after the baby was thrown over a parking structure at Children's Hospital of Orange County, police Sergeant Dan Adams said.

The woman's husband, Noe Medina, told the Orange County Register that his wife had been hospitalised for postpartum depression in June after she said she didn't want their son, Noe Jnr, who was diagnosed with congenital muscular torticollis - a twisting of the neck to one side.

The infant also wore a helmet to help correct his plagiocephaly, also known as flat-head syndrome, the Register reported. It was unknown if the boy was wearing a helmet when he was tossed over the railing.

"She didn't look at our son as normal," Medina said. "She didn't accept him. She didn't accept that he was like this."

Noe said the boy was receiving physical therapy twice a week and was showing signs of improvement.

Baby critical

Medina said his wife seemed better in recent weeks and he "began to trust her".

The infant remained in critical condition at the University of California, Irvine, Medical Centre, which has a trauma unit.

Hermosillo, who could make a court appearance as early as Wednesday, was being held without bail for investigation of attempted murder and is undergoing a psychological evaluation in the jail's medical ward, said Orange County sheriff's spokesperson Jim Amormino. She also was on an immigration hold, he said.

At a similar apartment complex less than two blocks away in a working-class neighbourhood of single-storey homes and 1960s-style apartment buildings, former neighbour Carmen Ruiz said she saw nothing wrong with Hermosillo. They spoke almost every day, she said, and Hermosillo was a stay-at-home mother to her two young daughters while her husband worked in construction.

The couple, both immigrants from Mexico City, didn't seem to fight and were friendly with neighbours, she said.

Police have not released a motive and the Orange County district attorney's office declined to comment until prosecutors there received the case from detectives, said Farrah Emami, district attorney spokesperson.

Comments

Dan18 - 2011-08-24 12:11

What a terribly written headline.

geraldine.saunders3 - 2011-08-24 12:22

We need more awareness on PPD in our commununities. Mothers often suffer in silence are told to just get over it. IF the mother is not well phsyically or emotionally how can she be expected to take care of herself in order to take care of her baby or children? What happened to the days when nurses would visit new moms at home to check up on their progress and offer support when they need it? I do have lots of praise for clinic sisters at local clinics who take their time to speak to you. So we need to find better ways to support moms and their babies.

O-Kay - 2011-08-24 12:33

I can't agree with you. This sort of behaviour is unacceptable, depressed or not, and I did suffer from PPD and am also on anti-depressants. I had many moments where I was tempted to do anything to stop baby crying, but I never acted on the temptation, because I am a human being with values.
If you reach out for help there are many people out there who are willing and able to do just that. However you first have to acknowledge that you have a problem!

PPD? No ways. She didn't want the child because in her eyes, he was less than perfect. What a monster!

Daemos1 - 2011-08-24 12:39

The umbilical cord is not a bunjee cord woman!

Fedup - 2011-08-24 12:39

Hope the bitch never sees that little boy again. Even if you suffer from PPD there is help available. She just cannot accept his condition that is all.

Poobie-Naicker - 2011-08-24 12:39

One flew out of the Cuckoos nest!!

Cheekiechops - 2011-08-24 12:41

Mental illness should not be skoffed at, its very sad. PPD is very real and there are different degrees. Her poor husband and that poor poor child. What a shame.

motsokwane - 2011-08-24 12:42

Developing countries are still backward in identifying and treating PPD.It is one of the reasons we see babies being thrown in the toilets and rubbish bins.

Grant - 2011-08-24 13:49

Is it just me, or did everybody else also assume that this occurred in SA?

Thandi - 2011-08-24 14:18

She probably had Postpartum PSYCHOSIS which is quite different to normal PPD. The psychotic ones are the ones who act out and become violent.PPD is more 'benign.' ie.not violent.Poor baby.Poor other siblings who will (have already, maybe) find out that their mother harmed their little brother.

Currie_Mafia - 2011-08-24 15:30

Flippin tosser !

sbusalacchi1 - 2011-08-24 16:54

The baby suffered from a little known condition known as torticollis. The good news is that it is treatable. More information is available from the non-profit ST Dystonia Association. www.STDystonia.org.